Campylobacter fetus | |
---|---|
![]() |
|
SEM image of C. fetus showing the characteristic "S-shaped" morphology. | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Proteobacteria |
Class: | Epsilonproteobacteria |
Order: | Campylobacterales |
Family: | Campylobacteraceae |
Genus: | Campylobacter |
Species: | C. fetus |
Binomial name | |
Campylobacter fetus (Smith & Taylor 1919) Sebald & Véron 1963 |
Campylobacter fetus is a species of Gram-negative, motile bacteria with a characteristic "S"-shaped rod morphology similar to members of the genus Vibrio . Like other members of the Campylobacter genus, C. fetus is oxidase-positive.
In addition to causing some cases of abortion in cattle and sheep, C. fetus is an opportunistic human pathogen and can cause bacteremia and thrombophlebitis . Though rare, C. fetus can lead to fatal septicemia in newborns and immunocompromised individuals . C. fetus, along with C. coli, has been shown to cause septicemia. Bacteremia can lead to localized infections of the meninges in the brain, the respiratory pleural spaces or lungs, joints, the pericardial sac around the heart, or the peritoneum.